A new study revealed that a certain type of specialized white blood cells are capable of finding hidden infected cells in tissue and destroy them, providing new insights into finding a possible cure for the dreaded human immunodeficiency virus and other chronic infections.
The study, published in the journal Nature Immunology, suggests that specialized killer T-cells could be utilized to treat patients with chronic infections like HIV.
According to a press release, a specialized killer T-cells, known as follicular cytotoxic T cells, is capable of entering the B cell follicle inside lymphoid tissue, where viruses hide to avoid treatment, and eradicate the virus pool.
"The potential of this discovery is huge. It helps us to understand how we may be able to treat diseases that affect the immune system itself, such as HIV or B cell lymphoma," explained Dr Axel Kallies, fellow lead researcher on the study from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, in a statement.
Researchers believe that these specialized T-cells could be transferred to infected patients. Additionally, patients with chronic infections could be treated with proteins capable of dragging the follicular cytotoxic T cells into the hot spots where HIV can hide on antiretroviral treatment.
There is still no cure developed for HIV and other chronic infections. Antiretroviral drugs can extend the life of infected patient, but due to the ability of the virus to hide during antiretroviral therapy, the virus still remains dormant in the body of the infected.
The researchers hope that a human trial for treatments utilizing specialized killer T cells within will begin within the next five years.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 36.9 million people in the world are living with HIV and as of 2015; around 15.8 million people were receiving antiretroviral therapy. In the United States, 44,073 new cases of HIV were diagnosed in 2014.